Chef Claude Booker founded Booker’s Soul Food Starters which are now available in over 1,000 grocery stores across the country. The soul food starter provides Southern side dishes for buffets was decimated as a direct result of the pandemic, and most buffets remain closed according to Black News.

Booker pivoted his business during the pandemic and went from just an idea to grocery store shelves with Booker’s Soul Food Starters in nine months. Booker didn’t shy away from his commitments to building a supply chain filed with Black-owned businesses.

“When the pandemic hit in 2020, I lost 90% of my hot food and steam table business during the shutdown,” Claude told Black News. “We pivoted and created pantry-ready seasonings for soul food during the pandemic because more people were eating at home. We went from creation to 1,000 stores in the midst of a pandemic.”

Booker’s Soul Food Starters allows customers to create the traditional flavors of collard greens, mac and cheese, peach cobbler, and more. By just adding their own fresh ingredients to the starter. The products are  sold online and in over 1,000 locations nationwide, including at Meijer, Stop & Shop, KeHE, Cost Plus World Market, VW Roses, and Sam’s Club.

Booker says changing course during the pandemic was a valuable lesson.

“Pivoting in the pandemic was a valuable lesson in perseverance in entrepreneurship and community. My hope is that other Black entrepreneurs will consider other avenues when one becomes blocked. It’s important for our community to continue to invest in itself and support Black business owners as we strive to close the wealth gap that has existed for too long in this country,” Booker said.

Booker says that he well understands the importance of keeping money in the Black community.

According to Brookings, the pandemic left Black households more vulnerable than before, “Although Black-owned businesses only represent a minority of all businesses, they are disproportionately likely to operate in sectors most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns.”

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